Exam week can be very stressful for students. Here are some general tips and guidelines for surviving and succeeding through finals.

Start studying early. The earlier you start to review your notes, the easier it will be to learn and remember the information. Review a little every day so that when finals come around the material is well-rehearsed.

Schedule breaks between studying. Always take a ten-minute break after studying for fifty minutes, and take a longer break after studying for three hours. Get something to eat, call a friend, go work out, or do something to get your mind off of what you have been studying.

Vary the subjects you study. It's hard enough to sit down and review your chemistry notes, but to look at calculus right after is even worse. What you study one hour directly affects your ability to understand what you are studying the next hour. Review for a science course and then look at English or a foreign language—something different. It makes studying less tiresome and you'll remember the information better.

Eat right. Always in a hurry, students often resort to junk food during finals. But to do your best on final exams, you must eat well.

• Research shows that eating smaller meals more frequently is vital to maintaining high energy levels.
• Avoid foods with high sugar and fat; they will make you sluggish.
• Breakfast boosts your energy and metabolism throughout the day, so be sure to include it in your diet if you are working hard.

Get enough sleep. When you stay up late, your body accumulates sleep debt, and few students find the chance to make it up during finals week.

• Seven to eight hours of sleep is absolutely necessary to remain attentive and think clearly throughout the day. Sleep deprivation can have consequences similar to intoxication.
• People who are sleep-deprived are more irritable, more negative, and are generally more prone to mistakes.
• Research has shown that prolonged sleep deprivation can result in higher incidences of chronic disease and a shortened lifespan.
• If an all-nighter is unavoidable, check out these all-nighter survival tips to help you make the most of it.

Reducing stress.

• Don't hang around others who are always stressed out—it's contagious!
• The top four non-academic stressors are relationships, parents, financial obligations, and roommates. Try to deal with these worries before finals, so that you can focus on any academic problems that may arise.
• Make time for yourself. Avoid spending too much time on school work by allowing a few hours every day for personal things—your friends, personal interests, etc.

Take care of your body. Exercising is always an excellent way to take a break from studying. It helps to reduce stress, and research has shown that it can improve your brain's ability to retain and comprehend information. Besides getting enough sleep and eating right, avoid caffeine stimulants like coffee, sodas, and caffeine pills.